Collapsible and portable enclosure



Aug. 15, 1961 w. E. RAUTH 2,995,157

COLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE ENCLOSURE Filed Sept. 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Y/lY/iam C. Raut/z A RNEY Aug. 15, 1961 W.E. RAUTH 2,996,157

COLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE ENCLOSURE Filed Sept. 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mfliam E- Kaulh A77" NEY W. E. RAUTH COLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE ENCLOSURE Aug. 15, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1958 MM mw W n m .a W

United States Patent 9 2,996,157 COLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE ENCLOSURE William 'Rauth, Wyndham Hills, York, Pa. Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,566 Claims. (Cl. 189-2) This invention relates to improvements in a collapsible and portable enclosure preferably intended for outdoor use but said enclosure is not restricted to such use. More particularly, the enclosure is of the type which is suitable for outdoor uses such as sun bathing and sleeping when the enclosure is to be used by humans. As tosize, the enclosure preferably is so dimensioned that the same readily may be used as a play enclosure or sleeping enclosure for infants and provides ready access of air and sunshine, while preventing insects or the like from entering the enclosure.

Many types of enclosures have been devised heretofore for such purposes but, in the main, they have been either restricted in size or have been unwieldy and complicated in erection, whereby the use thereof has not been of wide extent.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a portable and collapsible enclosure comprising at least two side panels, two end panels, and at least one top panel, the panels preferably comprising frames covered by sheet material such as insect screening, transparent or opaque sheet material of synthetic resin or thin sheet metal if it is not desired to have certain of the panels transparent or translucent, and the various panels are interconnected by means which will permit the quick assembly and interconnection thereof to form either a single unit enclosure which is somewhat cube-like, or additional sub-units of the side and top panels may be added to a first sub-unit of side and top panels, whereby the size of the enclosure readily may be arranged to form an enclosure of a desired size rather than being restricted to a single specific size.

Another object of the invention is to preferably form the panels from lightweight materials such as extruded aluminum shapes which are not only strong in proportion to the amount of material used but the same are resistant to corrosion without requiring painting and relatively thin panels may have adequate strength, and yet permit the panels of a predetermined size of enclosure to be compactly folded together when they are to be stored or transported. V

A further object of the invention is to provide connecting means for the various panels which are of such nature that relative sliding movement between the various panels is all that is necessary to eifect secure connection of the panels to each other and, in addition, one of the end panels preferably is vertically slidable upward to effect a door by which ingress and egress to and from the enclosure is obtained, it being understood that, preferably, the bottom of the enclosure is open but, if desired, an additional floor panel may be used and placed direct: ly upon the ground so as to be covered by the enclosure.

Still another object of the invention is to so construct the various panels so that they are rugged and durable, yet relatively inexpensive to produce in mass production quantities and the connecting means are rugged and foolproof in operation and are not readily damaged either while in use or when the various panels are arranged in collapsed and compact condition for storage or transportation.

Details of the invention thereof, as well as other objects, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

and the foregoing objects In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a foreshortened perspective view, somewhat exploded in nature, illustrating two sub-units made in accordance with the invention and shown in the process of being interconnected to each other, the end panels which are vertically movable relative to the sub-units also being shown in operative position and in process of being moved into closed position relative to the said units.

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the exemplary multi-unit enclosure illustrated in FIG. 1 and shown with all panels of the enclosure connected together in operative position, this view being contracted by removing certain of the central portions thereof as illustrated by phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a side elevation of the enclosure otherwise illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a foreshortened horizontal sectional view of the enclosure as seen on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a sub-unit of the enclosure comprising a top panel and two side panels hingedly connected together and positioned as they will appear when placed in use.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing, in full lines, the side panels in process of being folded relative to the top panel from the normal vertical position of the side panels, said normal position being illustrated in phantom.

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the sub-unit when the side panels have been folded respectively against opposite surfaces of the top panel.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, wherein an exemplary illustration shows two sub-units 10 interconnected together to form an elongated enclosure including end'panels 12 and 14, it is to be understood that, if desired, a single unit may be formed by using one of the sub-units 10 and one each of the end panels 12 and 14. The sub-units 10 each comprise a top panel 16 and a pair of side panels 18 and 20.

In the exemplary illustration shown in the drawings of the preferred construction of an enclosure embodying the invention, it will be seen that the top, side, and end panels preferably are formed from square or rectangular frames which are covered by any suitable type of sheet material generally indicated 22. Said sheet material preferably, for most of the panels, comprises suitable screen cloth made either from painted steel wire, copper, bronze, aluminium, or synthetic resin. In regard to the sheet covering for the frames comprising the top panels 16 however, it may under some circumstances be preferable to use impervious synthetic resin sheet material, especially for purposes of preventing rain from extensively entering the enclosure. If desired, for the same purpose, thin sheet metal or metal foil such as aluminum foil of suitable gauge thickness may be employed.

As will be seen particularly from FIGS. 1, 4, 8 and 9, the frames of the various panels are specifically illustrated as being formed from extruded metallic sections which may be obtained in desired lengths and are cut and mitered at the ends of each side member of the frame so as to form preferably a right angle with the adjacent frame members at opposite ends thereof. Any suitable means may be used to connect the corners together, a number of commercial connectors being presently available for this purpose. Further, the metallic sections are but said sections also include elongated grooves or recesses which receive the edges of the sheet material 22 for secure connection of the material to the frames of the various panels. Before describing the details of the various, preferably metal sections of the different panels, it is desired to indicate that the sub-units 10, which each comprise a top panel 16 and side panels 18 and 20, are similar and are slidably connectable when disposed in open position as shown in FIG. 5. Hinge means 24 connect one edge of top panel 16 to the upper edge of side panel 18, while hinge means 26 connect the upper edge of side panel 20 with the opposite edge of top panel 16, as best shown in FIGS. 1, and 6. In view of such arrangement, side panel 18 of the sub-unit may be folded against one surface of top panel 16, and side panel 20 may be folded against the opposite surface of top panel 16, as best illustrated in FIG. 7 which shows the folded or out-of-use position of the sub-unit 10.

Referring now to the various shapes of metallic sections from which the various panels are formed, and to simplify the illustration thereof, said various sections will be referred to by letters rather than numerals and like letters will be used to identify like frame sections. Referring to the top panels 16, two of the opposite sides of the frame of each top panel to which the side panels are hingedly connected are formed from section A. These are best shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. It will be seen that section A, in cross-section as shown in FIG. 8, has a rectangular hollow portion and, adjacent one edge is a groove 28 into which one edge of the flexible sheet material 22 is folded and is held securely within said groove by suitable compressible means such as a strip of rubber 30 which, in cross-section, preferably is larger than the groove 28 so as to effectively secure the sheet material 22 to all four sides of each panel. The opposite edges of section A are plain and comprise the finished outer edge of these opposite sides of the panels 16.

One of the other opposite sides of the frame comprising top panel 16 is formed from section B which is illustrated in enlarged view in FIG. 9. It will be seen that section B has a groove 28 adjacent one edge to receive an edge of the flexible sheet material 22 so as to be securely held therein by compressible strip 30. The intermediate sectional portion of section B is hollow, and the opposite edge of section B has a rib 32 which is half as thick as the section. The side frame member of top panel 16 opposite section B is formed from section C, best shown in FIG. 9, and it will be seen that section C is complementary to section B and differs only in that one edge of section C has a rib 34, the outer surface of which is flush with the lower surface of section C in use, whereby the ribs 32 and 34 abut each other in the nature of a half-together joint. This abutting relationship is established when, for example, the left-hand sub-unit shown in FIG. 1 is fully moved downwardly into connected engagement with the right-hand sub-section 10 shown in said figure, the completed joint being shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. Such joint is insect-tight.

Side panels 18 and 20 have upper and lower frame members formed from section A as do also the upper and lower frame members of end panels 12 and 14. However, side panels 18 and 20 have vertical frame members formed from section D at one end and section B at the opposite end. The details of these sections are best illustrated in FIG. 4 but are also shown on a smaller scale in FIG. 1. Each of said sections have grooves 28 to receive edges of the flexible sheet material 22 which are secured by a compressible strip 30. Were it not for the fact that the grooves 28 must be on the same surface of the frames comprising side panels 18 and 20, sections D and E could be the same. However, said sections are both formed with transversely interlocking, but longitudinally slidable ribs 36 and 38 respectively formed on sections D andE, whereby when one of the sub-units 10 is extended as shown in FIG. 5 and one end thereof is slidably moved vertically relative to an adjacent end of another sub-unit, the

C-shaped ribs 36 and 38 respectively thereon will interlock. Further, the corresponding ribs at the opposite vertical sides of the side panels 18 and 20 comprise guide means for the end panels 12 and 14 as now will be described.

As is explained above, the upper and lower frame members of end panels 12 and 14 are formed from section A. However, the vertical sides of end panel 12 are formed from section F and as will be seen particularly from FIG. 4, the outer edges of section F have J-shaped ribs 40 which are complementary to C-shaped ribs 36 on section D, whereby vertical sliding movement of end panel 12 is assured, as well as rendering the end panel 12 transversely disengageable from the side panels 18 and 20. Further, it will be seen that section F of end panel 12 also is provided with grooves 28 to receive edges of flexible sheet material 22 which is secured therein by compressible strips 30. In the preferred intended use of end panel 12, the same is moved slidably vertically upward relative to one end of sub-unit 10, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, and when the upper end thereof abuts rib 32 on section B at one end of the top panel 16 of said sub-section, movement of end panel 12 will be stopped and an insect-tight seal will be established between the end panel 12 and top panel 16. It will be understood of course that the vertical dimension of end panel 12 is such as to render the lower edge thereof flush with the lower edges of side panels 18 and 20 when the upper edge of end panel 12 is in abutment with rib 32.

Referring now to end panel 14, which also preferably serves as a vertically slidable door, the vertical side frame members thereof are formed from section G, best shown in FIG. 4. Section G preferably has a hollow interior, the same as sections D, E and F, intermediately of the side edges thereof, while adjacent one edge section G also is formed with a groove 28 to receive one edge of flexible sheet material 22, the latter being secured Within the groove by a compressible strip 30. The opposite edge of section G comprises a straight flange 42 and an L-shaped rib 44, between which the flange 38 of section B is received as shown in FIG. 4. Hence, it will be seen that flange 42 and L-shaped rib 44 on section G complementarily engage the rib 38 on section B slidably but will prevent separable movement transversely of the end panel :14 relative to side panels 18 and 20.

Secured to the upper edge of end panel 14 is a rib or plate 46 which may be attached thereto by any suitable means such as screws or bolts. Said rib or plate 46 is sulficiently wide to overlie the rib 34 adjacent the same on top panel 16 when end panel 14 is moved vertically downward for its full length. Hence, the rib 46 serves as stop means and properly locates the end panel 14 in closed position relative to the sub-unit 10, as well as providing an insect-tight connection between the upper edge of end panel 14 and the top panel 16 of said sub-unit. Exemplary bolts or screws 48 are shown in FIG. 2.

The interlocking of the vertical edges of the end panels 12 and 14, in a transverse direction, relative to the outermost vertical edges of side panels 18 and 20 adequately will brace the sub-units and hold them securely in the operative position thereof illustrated in FIG. 5 for example. No other bracing means are needed. Especially after end panel 12 has been operatively positioned relative to one end of the sub-unit 10 to which it is connected, such assembly is relatively stable and rigid for slidable movement of the other end panel 14 vertically downward relative to the opposite end of said assembly. This same function will take place whether or not a single sub-unit is used or a plurality of interconnected sub-units are operatively connected to each other.

Although it is preferred that the various sections A--G from which the frames of the various panels are formed be aluminum, whereby such forms readily may be extruded and thereby provide rigid shapes which are light in weight, resistant to corrosion, and have substantial strength relative to the cross-sectional shapes thereof, it nevertheless is to be understood that said frames may be formed from other types of material and the various sections may be formed by milling, planing, or routing, for example, these operations being capable of being performed in wood as well as other similarly workable materials which are substantially rigid by nature and are capable of functioning as intended to meet the requirements of the invention as described above.

The size of each panel is subject to suitable selection, depending upon the use. However, by way of example, if the panels are all made about 3 feet square, they will form an enclosure that is highly suitable for many purposes.

It will also be seen from the foregoing that portable and collapsible enclosures are provided by the essentials of the present invention, such enclosures being of variable lengths, depending upon the number of sub-units used for each enclosure. Only two end members are needed, regardless of the number of sub-units used. In addition, the sub-units are readily capable of being folded into compact relationship as shown in FIG. 7, whereby when the two end panels 12 and 14 are also placed in flat, abutting relationship with opposite surfaces of the folded unit shown in FIG. 7 for example, a very compact and easily stored unit is provided. Not only may such unit be stored readily in a small space, but such unit readily may be transported in vehicles such as an automobile.

Still further, the present invention not only provides an enclosure which is highly suitable for use as a play pen for infants, or for sun bathing or sleeping of adults, but the same also is highly suitable as a play yard or run for pets. Depending upon the type of flexible sheet material used to cover the various panels, air and light readily pass to the interior of the enclosure, yet the same may be rendered reasonably water-proof on the interior by the selection of appropriate covering materials at least for the top panels of the sub-units.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that the enclosure may be unfolded and mounted in operative position or collapsed into storage position by simple sliding and folding movements, requiring no use of tools or additional fastening elements. Hence, there are no items to be lost such as screws, latches, hooks, or the like.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A collapsible enclosure comprising a U-shaped subunit comprising two side panels and a top panel opposite sides of which respectively engage and are flexibly connected to edges of said side panels, said side panels being substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to said top panel, two relatively rigid end panels respectively movably engaging opposite edges of the side and top panels of said sub-unit and substantially coextensive in area to the space defined by said sub-unit, and separable interlocking means on certain edges of said end panels and said opposite edges of said side panels of said sub-unit, said interlocking means on said side panels comprising members arranged selectively to engage edges of said rigid end panels and edges of additional similar side panels interlockingly by slidable movement longitudinally of said edges to secure said panels into a self-sustaining enclosure of either single or multiple lengths of said side and top panels of said sub-units secured together solely by the slidably interlocking means on said edges of said panels and rendered rigid by said rigid end panels.

2. A collapsible enclosure comprising a U-shaped subunit comprising two side panels and a top panel opposite sides of which respectively engage and are flexibly connected to edges of said side panels, said side panels being substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to said top panel, two rigid end panels respectively slidably engaging opposite edges of the side panels of said sub-unit and substantially co-extensive in area to the space defined by said sub-unit, and complementary elongated rib and channel means on opposite edges of said end panels and also on said opposite edges of said side panels of said sub-unit, said rib and channel means on said side panels being longitudinally slidable relative to the rib and channel means on said end panels and transversely interlocked selectively to said complementary rib and channel means on the edges of said end panels and edges of similar side panels of an additional sub-unit to secure said panels of said sub-units and end panels into an interlocked enclosure of either single or multiple lengths of said sub-units secured together solely by the slidably interlocking means on said edges of said panels and rendered rigid by said rigid end panels.

3. A collapsible and portable enclosure comprising a U-shaped sub-unit comprising two side panels and a top panel, said side panels being substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to said top panel, hinge means connecting opposite edges of said top panels respectively to edges of said side panels, said hinge means being exterior of said sub-unit at one corner and interior thereof at the other corner, whereby said side panels may be folded flatly when not in use respectively against opposite surfaces of said top panel, two rigid end panels respectively detachably engaging opposite edges of the side and top panels of said sub-unit, and detachably interlocked means on certain edges of said end panels and said opposite edges of said side panels of said sub-unit, said interlocked means on said side panels comprising members arranged selectively and longitudinally slidable to engage edges of said end panels and edges of similar side panels of an additional sub-unit to secure said panels of said sub-units and end panels into an interlocked enclosure of either single or multiple lengths of said sub-units secured together solely by the slidably interlocking means on said edges of said panels and rendered rigid by said rigid end panels.

4. The enclosure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the opposite outer edges of the top panel other than those connected to the side panels having elongated ribs projecting outwardly therefrom and selectively interfitting abuttingly and complementarily in overlapping relationship with adjacent edges of the top panels of additional sub-units and end panels to effect insecttight connections between the top panels of connected sub-units.

5. The enclosure set forth in claim 4 further characterized by one of the end panels of the enclosure having a rib on the upper edge thereof complementary to the rib on one edge of said top panel and abutting the same upon full downward sliding movement of said one end panel, and the upper edge of the other end panel abutting the rib on the opposite edge of the top panel from below when said other end panel is in operative closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 188,566 Barnes Mar. 20, 1877 1,174,369 Walsh Mar. 7, 1916 2,720,105 Billups Oct. 11, 1955 2,745,420 Zitomer May 15, 1956 2,751,635 Donnahue June 25, 1956 2,837,153 Brown et al. June 3, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 909,390 Germany Nov. 2, 1954 

